Key holding device



1957 M. c. OILL 7 2,777,317

KEY HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 7, 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent cc KEY HOLDING DEVICE Max C. Oill, New York, N. Y.

Application July 7, 1954, Serial No. 441,807

7 Claims. (Cl. 70457) This invention relates to a device which may be used advantageously for holding a plurality of lock keys assembled for use.

In carrying a plurality of distinctive lock keys on a chain or other type of carrier, the keys become bunched, and so make it inconvenient to select and use a particular key for a certain lock. Also with regard to a key chain which may be formed into a closed loop, such chain when the ends thereof are disconnected for the purpose of inserting or removing or replacing one key, allows the keys already strung on the chain to slip 011 the chain making it necessary to again place them on the chain; and accidental parting of a key or keys from the chain may result in the loss of a key or keys, especially when this occurs at night.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device of the indicated character which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages by retaining a plurality of lock keys on a carrier part by a novel means and in such manner that the keys are retained on the carrier part assembled in spaced relation to each other so any particular key for a certain lock may be readily selected for obvious purposes, and also for enabling the replacement on and the removal from a carrier part or chain of a key or keys by simple manipulations.

With the foregoing, other objects and advantages of the invention will appear when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gripper which is applicable to a lock key in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the gripper shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows on an enlarged scale a portion of a lock key on a portion of a carrier part in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, wherein a gripper of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is employed, the key and its gripper being shown in section.

Fig. 4 shows a portion of a carrier part and keys retained thereon in spaced relation to each other.

Fig. 5 shows a modified carrier part and keys retained thereon in accordance with the invention, only a portion of the carrier part being shown.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown one gripper of the type for one lock key 11. It is to be understood that one gripper 10 is provided for each key to be retained on a carrier part 12, such for instance as a chain comprising interconnected wire links 13 and globular beads 14 in spaced relation to each other, the ends of the chain having cooperative means constituting a latch, not shown, for connecting said ends to form the chain into a closed loop.

The gripper 10 is in the form of an eyelet or grommet made wholly of resilient material, preferably soft rubber, providing a cylindrical body 15 having circular end flanges 16 which define a circular recess 17 between 2,777,317 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 them, and there being a hole 18 extending clear through the body 15.

It is known that standard or conventional lock keys each have an aperture, such as the aperture 19 in the head 20.v The aperture 19 is usually of a specified size and will accommodate a gripper 10. Due to the resiliency of the material of the gripper, the gripper may be deformed and then be inserted into place in the aperture 19 of a key with the body 15 disposed in the aperture and the flanges 16 disposed at opposite sides of the head 20 embracing the head so as to effectually hold the gripper 10 in place, thereby providing the key with resilient gripping means. It is to be understood that the normal size of the hole 18 is smaller than the diameter of each of the beads 14 so as to yieldably grip one or two of the beads. By manipulating the key along the chain, the gripper yields due to the inherent resiliency, so that the key may be set in place between two adjacent beads 14 partially gripped by the gripper, or the gripper may be made to grip a single head. In either case the key is restrained from sliding along the chain by itself, but that the key may be slid along the chain by manipulating the key laterally with one hand while holding the chain with the other hand.

If desired, as shown in Fig. 5, the carrier part may be in the form of a rigid rod 21 adapted to be detachably supported on a plate 22 secured to an enclosing leather or plastic folder 23 only a portion of which is shown. A plurality of grommet equipped keys may be assembled on the rod 21 and held in spaced relation to each other and capable of being turned or swung angularly with respect to the rod. The rod may have circular grooves 24 therein axially spaced with respect to each other to severally accommodate the grommets 10 of a plurality of keys in spaced relation for the retention of the keys against movement along the rod 21.

Grippers or grommets strung on a carrier part may be sold with instructions to the purchaser how to apply the grippers or grommets to the keys in the possession of the purchaser for assembling the keys in the manner and for the purposes described hereinabove.

I claim:

1. A device for holding lock keys assembled in spaced relation to each other, comprising a carrier part, and apertured grippers made of resilient material strung on said carrier part, said grippers severally being insertable in the usual eyes of the keys, the-normal size of the aperture in each of said grippers being smaller than the cross-sectional size of said carrier part, so that said grippers yieldably grip said carrier part.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said grippers are grommets.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said grippers are grommets made of rubber.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier part has laterally spaced indentations to severally accommodate said grippers.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier part has laterally spaced indentations, and said grippers are grommets made of rubber and severally accommodated in said indentations.

6. A device for holding lock keys assembled in spaced relation to each other, comprising a carrier part, and apertured grippers made of resilient material strung on said carrier part, said carrier part comprising a length of wire and globular beads on said wire in spaced relation to each other, said grippers severally being insertable in the usual eyes of the keys, the normal size of the aperture in each of said grippers being smaller than the diameter of each of said beads, so that said grippers severally may be assembled on said carrier part between adjacent beads, and also be removed from said carrier 1,697,814 part subject to the yieldable gripping action of said 1,814,710 grippers. 2,429,840 7. A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said grip- 2,672,044 pets are grommets made of resilient material; 5

References Cited in the file of this patent 586,660

UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,982 Gutmann Nov. 5, 1901 4 Forbes Ian. 1, 1929 Komorous July 14, 1931 Pfau Oct. 28, 1947 Mafiin Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 26, 1947 

